Disclaimer: enim ton si rettop yrrah. (What? If you're crazy and desperate enough to think I'm JKR and making money off of this then you're crazy and desperate enough to hold a mirror up to that.)
Hello everybody! X-mas is gone now! I have only one more week left of break! So I hope you guys all got whatever you guys wanted. Not just for Christmas for Hannukah and Kwanza too. Oh and late Eid Mubarak to any muslims. LOL. Yeah I think I got most popular religions...and if I didn't sorry! Anywhoo did any of you go shopping lately? Because here in Canada we have this thing called Boxing Day on the 26th where they have all these sales at like every store. But that's not important, what's important is the thank-you's.
Sweetthang0013: Aww thanks. Ah yes...Seamus...nah I think he'll be around for a while longer.
Chrismukkah-hunnie: I know...Marissa's sometimes over the top lol. What's going to happen to her pool-boy? And poor Seth! I was shocked by it too. Yeah I hate Britney Spears lots too. She has no singing talent and even less modesty. Sheesh. I've managed to get that song out of my head. Yay! Oh and thank you for your review!
Jnx: Oops sorry it was so difficult to tell. They did change the settings an awful lot of times in the last chappie. Yes it is! Very creative greeting. Thanks for it and the review!
Rianna Potter: Thank you. It's good to hear from you again.
brokentoy19: Thanks!
sjpgurl13: I like the viles idea too actually. Usually I feel rather un-creative. But thanks!
She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named: Maybe...but I think I might end up with too many colors then lol. It just has the ones in Britain. Because each country has it's own Ministry of Magic. Like the government of Australia wouldn't have the medical records of a Chinese citizen or something...lol. I don't think so at least? LOL. No I'm sure...(((ponders))) Whatever thanks for reviewing!
PinkyTheSnowman: Yeah Harry and Ron are thieves and the former doesn't really know it. Heh heh...yess feel my agony of Britney Spears! I'd like to explore that place too. Especially if I was a witch...find out where I am in my love life lol. Yes they're soul mates. Hah...I'm glad you're supporting it for the sake of the story. Yeah I suppose I am. I've read too many Harry/Ginny stories but I still like some of their stories if it's well written. (It's sort of same with Lily/James and Ron/Hermione stories that have usually been overdone). Hmm...I don't think I'm going to have time to get Ginny a boyfriend but thanks for the suggestion and review!
dancerrdw: Thank you. It was greatly appreciated!
Mental357: Yay! Haha that was amusing. Yes yes to sugar and updates. Awesome review, thanks for it!
Nymphomaniac: Oooh Crimbo? That's cool. Hah...it's sad that I don't know it since I've spent a Christmas in England with my British cousins. I'm glad I cleared the Harry/Luna issue up for you. Thanks for the review too!
MeryKey-7: Yeah they are soul mates and yes Hermione's going through a transition. Thanks btw!
piratingspiderelf: Yup golden vials means they're soul mates. Interesting advice for Hermione. Anywhoo thank you! (P.S. You're right. I think Britney needs to stop. Period.)
ellen2321: Yeah. The food's the best at 's because it's the best hospital in the Wizarding World. And they put in a little extra effort to make the yummiest meals because Harry's famous and he's the Boy-Who-Lived! Come on! Hah...Well eating with a broken jaw is difficult. He has to take little bites at a time because he can only open his mouth just so far...George and Daphne are living in London and you'll hear from them sooner than expected. The holy cheek will be holy for as long as Ron loves Hermione which is for life! No comment on the last question which should be answer enough. Thanks!
Bhekie: Thanks a whole bunch for reviewing.
StarPhoenix: Goshh! Thank you. I'm glad you like it so much.
Silver Ice: Yeah it was a good way to end the last chapter before Christmas. I didn't want to have it...and then Ron died. The End. Or anything like that. I didn't want anybody to be depressed before the holidays. It's nice to hear the vials were that appealing to you. Also thank you for reviewing!
Erm the Great: Nice pen-name and thanks.
caligirl: Thanks!
azn flame92: Sorry! I didn't even realize I'd done it. Anyways glad to see you got an account. I'll try to get around to reading your story a.s.a.p. Thanks for reviewing too!
gonzogirl: Haha thanks anyways! Yup Hermione's in a real fix.
Dark Flame5: Thank you so much. It's always nice to get new reviewers and I'm sooo flattered you compare my eigth-grade writing skills to JKR. Thanks so much and thank you for bringing the off-topic situation up. I've been thinking the same myself.
LunaAqua: Yeah me too. Since her vials in the middle then yeah it does mean she's growing feelings for her soul mate. If Seamus' soul mate was Becky...it would not only be funny but slightly awkward for everybody in general. Especially Ron and Seamus since they would've then dated each other's soul mates. Hah anywhoo thanks for the review.
Miss-Court-A-Doo: Thanks. That song was sung by Bay City Rollers. Yep drama is fab for me too. I don't like it when they're always happy lol. Nice hints. Very subtle.
Balewilyiel: I love Fred and George. I don't write them too often because sometimes I'm afraid to write them badly because I love them to death. Hurray to the hate thing LOL. Anyways thanks.
Tristic: NO! I like getting lots of reviews. Hah...don't mind my jokes. I really do appreciate them actually. Getting feedback on my story is the best part of my day. Keep reviewing and thanks for ALL the reviews you've given me so far.
Sabrina: I only give subtle clues. Lol. On another note still loving the bumps. Thanks for them.
"There is no way I'm escorting you to the Hogwarts Reunion," Ron prompted, "And you can stop asking, Ginny."
"But Ro-on, I need to show that pouty Michael Corner what he missed out on," Ginny pleaded, "And you can't go stag!"
Ron rolled his eyes. It was a very uncharacteristic trait for him. He did not often get to shake his head or roll his eyes at other people's immaturity. But Ginny was over the top. Just because Ron didn't have anyone to take to the Hogwarts Reunion didn't mean he'd take his baby sister. That was worse than going stag. Yet even up to this evening, the night of the actual Reunion, Ginny wouldn't buzz off. She had dated so many guys in his year and broke up with so many of them that she wanted to show them all up by treating them to a taste of the so called woman she was now. She'd gone so far as to show up at Hermione's flat, where Harry, Luna, Ron, Seamus and Hermione had decided to leave from, all dressed up in jade green dress robes. Her hair was softly curled and Ron thought that she had dyed her usual angry red hair to a more lighter strawberry blonde shade. Ron frowned. No one changed the Weasley hair.
"Oh, Ron, just let her go," Hermione scoffed, "She's already dressed."
"Nuh uh! She can get someone else to take her!" Ron protested.
Hermione was still roaming around the room, checking her make up and patting her sleek, newly straightened hair. Ron didn't understand why she was trying so hard to look beautiful. She'd amaze them without all the glamour. Although it did add to her glory. Ron and Seamus sat stiffly on the couchs, claid in neat dress robes. Seamus' were dankly gray. Ron's were black and pale violet. It sort of matched with Hermione's lavender robes Ron thought wistfully to himself. Seamus didn't match Hermione.
'Who cares?' Ron pondered quietly, 'It's not like matching clothes means love.'
"Ok, boys-erm men-which necklace? The silver one or the pearls?" Hermione questioned. She didn't get quite the responses she had been expecting.
"Uhh...," Seamus began then smiled, "I like both."
"When are Harry and Luna getting here?" Ron asked absentmindedly, totally avoiding the question.
"The silver one then," Hermione finished.
Just as Ginny opened her mouth to beg her brother to let her be his guest, Harry and Luna apparated into the room. Harry wore navy blue robes and Luna wore silky almost Asian-style red robes. Luna's hair looked tamer than usual but Harry's untidy hair was-well-untidy.
"Silver? I always liked the pearls," Luna commented, noticing Hermione's choice of necklace.
"I know, me too. I'll change. It was their-here she gestured towards Ron and Seamus-idea for silver," Hermione explained, opting for a change. Ron chose not to comment.
"Nice robes, Luna," Ginny said getting up the joinging the two.
Luna smiled slightly dreamily, "You too of course. And you, Hermione."
The three broke out into waves of good gestures.
"My god, it's like they're having a contest to see who can give the other the most compliments," Ron muttered, making Seamus laugh.
"Ok, ok. We all look great, can we go?" Harry suggested. Rather hesitantly the three witches nodded.
"Let's do it," Seamus said happy to get going.
"Here's the port-key that they sent us along with our invites-everybody hold on-"
"Ginny, and where do you think you're exactly going?" Ron interrogated.
"Oh Ron! Come on!" Ginny begged.
"Um...let me see...NO!" Ron retorted.
"But-Row!" Ginny cried out and tried a last minute trick. It was a dirty trick it was. She'd called him 'Row'. You may ask-what the hell is Row? Well to Ron it was the most adorable sound ever coming from Ginny. When she'd been little she'd had difficultly pronouncing her n's, and Ron was out of the question. So the closest she'd got to saying Ron was by saying Row. And no one could say Row cuter than Ginny. Her baby voice had been lightly, airy, bubbly and cuddly-woodly-mushy-wushy-baby -waby-well you get the point. The nickname Row made Ron's heart melt even today, although he'd rather kiss a Slytherin than admitt it.
"Ginny-" Ron started tersely, "Oh-oh fine. You can come. But if anybody asks, you're not my date!"
" 'Course," Ginny grinned, she knew 'Row' would never fail her.
The Hogwarts Reunion was to be held outside on the school grounds. The sloping lawn by the lakeside had been enchanted so that whilst the surrounding scenery portrayed cold February weather, the actual area felt like summer in July. The trees had magically regrown their leaves and were decorated with lights which, on closer inspection, were actually small moth-sized fairies. The dance floor was filled with ex-students, and the food table had to keep refilling itself because Crabbe and Goyle kept eating all it's goods. Some of the food they even stuffed into their dress robes for later consumption. Draco Malfoy was with them and was the same old snoot. He didn't have his family fortune anymore because he'd been robbed of that when his father was arrested as a Death Eater but that didn't mean he wasn't rich. He sold and traded many goods and was just as wealthy as ever. Currently his eyes were roaming the dance floor for a dance partner/prey.
Ron was sitting at the table with Hermione and Seamus, boredom taking over. Harry and Luna had left long ago to dance but had not yet returned. Ron had noticed them sneaking off to Hogwarts Castle for god knows what reason. Ginny was chatting up every ex-boyfriend in sight. Ron had to admitt she'd inherited his merit of being a flirt. Although slowly the skill was dwindling away from him and all on the account of Hermione.
She was slipping her wine and keeping quiet. She spoke neither to Seamus nor Ron and the only conversation that the three of them shared was mumbles from Ron and Seamus. Ron just didn't know how to keep up comfortable conversation with Seamus any longer. And it was even harder in front of Hermione.
"Seamus," Hermione said suddenly, "Would you care to dance?"
"Dancing's not our thing, 'Mione. You know that," Seamus replied softly, placing his hand on Hermione's. Her complexion, however, darkened considerably. Seamus didn't seem to notice and mumbled something to the two of them about getting a drink before striding off to the food table.
"I love dancing," Hermione said in a barely audible voice. Ron had a feeling she was speaking to Seamus but he knew Seamus couldn't hear from that distance. She said it almost defensively. Ron didn't know why she just hadn't told Seamus earlier.
"If you love dancing so much then I'll dance with you," Ron offered. It came out before Ron had a chance to take it back but then after thinking about it he decided it was a pretty nifty idea.
Hermione smiled, "Why thank you, Ron. I'd love to."
They both stood and Ron offered her his arm. She took it gingerly and he led them, both to the dance floor. Soft, tinkling music was playing in the background and Ron noticed instruments up on a stage. They played on their own.
Ron placed his hands carefully on Hermione's hips and could feel tension there. Actually he could feel tension all over her body. She was compact and concentrated so tensely that it surprised him. He rubbed her slightly and felt her ease up a bit.
"You're tense," Ron said, as she wrapped her arms about his shoulders. They started to sway gently to the music.
"No-no wait you're right. I am tense," Hermione sighed, shaking.
"Why so?" Ron inquired, beginning to worry.
"Well...it's complicated," Hermione said in a choppy manner.
"What is?" Ron questioned, leading their dance.
"Oh Ron, it's not something I exactly to talk to a guy about. Especially not anyone like you or Harry," Hermione tried to explain.
"What do you mean by not anyone like my and Harry?" Ron said in mock offense.
"I mean, you guys are such guys. I need more of a woman's opinion," Hermion clarified.
"Excuse me, sister but I can be very feminine," Ron said in his own girlish defence.
Hermione laughed, "Nice try but no."
"Come on, try me," Ron responded.
"I don't know...," Hermione murmured.
"Of course you don't and you won't until you tell me," Ron replied with a shake of his head.
Hermione laughed again. He loved making her laugh. "Alright, alright. I see your point. Who knows you could be my best advice-giver yet."
Ron nodded to all this. And waited for Hermione to take on a more, which she did soon.
"Well my problem is with...Seamus. You see, don't get me wrong he's a wonderful guy but when I'm with him...I'm not myself."
"Huh? Say that again," Ron requested, confused.
"Ron! See I knew you wouldn't undserstand!" Hermione cried in anguish.
"Ok! Ok! Calm down, Herms-she flinched-I'll listen. Now what exactly do you mean by you're not yourself when you're with him?" Ron asked, trying his best to keep a straight face.
Hermione gave him a long, doubting look before continuing, "I act different. More-more like him. And at one time I thought that was who I really was but recently while spending time with you, Harry, Luna and the rest of the Weasleys and going back to my roots I realized it's not at all who I am. I'm been living the life of another person. Of course I'm starting to fix that but then I realize something. Would the real me date Seamus Finnigan?"
"Uh huh. You know I once told you my opinion on that," Ron said silently. Hermione blinked, hardly believing he'd bring up that incident at the end of seventh year.
"I remember it perfectly. And at the time I was stubborn but now I almost see what you mean," Hermione said stiffly, "I like him and he likes me but I don't think the love is there. And if we're going to get married the love needs to be there-"
"What do you mean, 'getting married'?" Ron demanded in panicky tones. The proposal hadn't happened yet...or had it?
"Well I know he's going to propose sooner or later. You told me yourself," Hermione explained.
"What?" Ron yelped, "When did I do that?"
"That time at your flat. You said the two of us, as in Harry and I, are getting married. Or not wait you said the T-O-O of us, eh?" Hermione teased.
"Hey! That was a sudden slip up and I couldn't think of a cover! Don't tell Seamus I let that loose!" Ron said.
"I won't. Anyways I'm glad you let it slip. It gave me time to think and anyways, I don't think he loves me. Isn't a big mistake? Proposing to someone you don't love?" Hermione ranted, "And if my own boyfriend of three years doesn't love me then no one must love me."
She ended this sullenly and almost bitterly.
"That's not true," Ron piped up. He wanted to make her feel better. He didn't want her to be hurt and think no one loved her. "I love you."
The music screeched to a stop. The dancers all stopped moving. The earth exploded.
Well, actually, no, none of this happened but Hermione blanched and looked up at Ron. The three words he'd thought make her feel better only seemed to have hurt her more. She pulled away from him and stared at him like he was the Basilisk.
"Well no-I actually meant-I-I-"
What did he actually mean?
"Aw look who it is. The Weasel with his guuurrlfriend, " Malfoy cooed. As usual Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind him menacingly.
"Shut your face, Malfoy," Ron retorted, automatically. Telling Malfoy to close his trap just came naturally to him.
"Oooh, looks like Weasley's developped a temper over the years," Malfoy crooned, "How about Crabbe and Goyle teach you a little lesson about managing your anger."
Crabbe and Goyle grinned idiotically and stepped forward. Of course they wouldn't be Crabbe and Goyle if they didn't accidentally bonk heads in the proccess of stepping two feet forward.
Hermione moved back, still starting dully at Ron. She looked as if a slight numbing sensation was overtaking her. Perhaps it was the same one overtaking him right now? She bumped into Malfoy in her daze.
"Move out of my way, Mudblood," Malfoy snarled.
"Gladly," Hermione replied, her eyes welling up as she ran off.
Ron wanted to follow her but instead he ran off in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going, you coward?" Malfoy shouted after him. Ron, for once in his life, ignored his pride and let his grief and love take control. He ran past the Forbidden Forest, ran past the Entrance Hall, ran past the Great Hall, ran down the stairs and in search for empty classrooms. He had a feeling the Potions classroom would be empty. What student would want to go there at night? Snape would be in his office by now. It ironic how he was seeking refuge in a room he once despised entering. He opened the door and fortunately it was open. He didn't bother turning on the lights but just sank into the nearest desk and cried. He felt ashamed to do it. He wasn't a crying person. Not to say he didn't cry but he didn't cry like this. Not sobbing hysterically like a woman. He'd told Hermione he'd loved her and the idea was so repulsive to her she cried! For goodness sake was he that horrible a person that she'd cry? He knew he'd wrecked their friendship. He'd lost one of this best friends, he just knew it. And that was worse than anything possibly imaginable. More so since his particular best friend was also the love of his life.
God, he hoped no one heard him.
Yet someone did happen to over hear the glum spill of tears. That someone was in the room. Ron hadn't noticed anyone in the dark but not that particular wizard and flicked the lights on. It was Snape.
Ron sat up straight in his desk. And wiped his tears away in a fury of speed. This was a most humiliating situation. But the embarassement reached both sides. Snape sat at his desk, just as gangly as ever. He was the same bastard Ron remembered from school except that his hair was graying slightly. In this hands he held what he had obviously been reading in dark-in the moonlight-Witch Weekly?
Both wizards stood up and met halfway. Both were flushing soft pink and Ron's ears were hot red.
"Were-were you crying,Weasley?" Snape questioned surprised.
"Were you reading Witch Weekly, sir?" Ron asked incredulously.
Silence. In all the silences in their lives this was the most awkward of them all for the two men.
"We shall never speak of this moment again, Weasley. Is that clear?" Snape said finally.
"Crystal," Ron replied. They both sounded edgy, nervous.
"Well, I-Snape blushed-I would like to continue my night time reading if you don't mind, Weasley," Snape said.
"Right," Ron said then understood what Snape meant, "Riiigghhtt. Ok bye Professor."
Snape twitched his mouth into what he might consider a smile. It still looked like a smirk to Ron.
Ron left and was barely outside of the room when he began shaking with tears again.
Author's Note: I know you hate me because I took so long to update but my family from Australia came to visit and they've kept me busy. Anywhoo quite a chapter, eh?
xoxo
Princess Elizabeth Georgiana Mionette Constance Bergeron the third (What? If Madonna came have a Kaballah name called Esther, can't I have one too?)
For those of you who say no then fine:
winky-wink